Church leaders in Sarawak are calling on Umno and the chief of its Sepang division, Noorazli, to issue an unconditional apology over a joke about a priest, according to The Star. The remark was made at an Umno general assembly event, the outlet reports.
The demand follows a conditional apology that drew rejection from DAP lawmakers, Malaysiakini reported. The Star also reported that the Unity Minister has urged a probe into the priest and nun joke delivered at the Umno AGM.
Separately, the Catholic lawyers' society said it would lodge a police report over the Umno leader's remarks, per Free Malaysia Today. Malay Mail reported that leaders in Sabah have also pressed for an apology over comments about Christianity.
The reactions span church groups, federal and state lawmakers, a lawyers' body and a government minister, indicating the issue has moved beyond a single speech into a broader test of how political parties handle religious sensitivities in Malaysia.
What to watch next: whether Umno or Noorazli responds to the calls for an unconditional apology, and how the proposed probe and police report proceed.